Police: LANTA driver hoped to 'hook up'

Robert Donnell of Allentown charged with harassing teenage girl on his route.

August 12, 2010|By Pamela Lehman, OF THE MORNING CALL

A 40-year-old LANTA bus driver is charged with harassment after he admitted to Bethlehem police he tried to "hook up" with a teenage girl he picked up on his route, according to court records.

Robert Johnson Donnell, of 828 Turner St., Allentown, admitted he had contact with the girl on his bus Tuesday night, according to court records.

Police said video from the bus supports the girl's claims that after Donnell's passengers had departed, he parked the bus, turned off the lights and tried to hug the girl.

A LANTA representative could not be reached for comment on Donnell's employment status.

According to court records:

The girl, 17, told police she spoke with Donnell as he drove his bus at Broad and Guetter streets in Bethlehem. When she asked if he could drive her to the South Side, Donnell told her to wait until the other passengers left.

After the passengers were gone, Donnell stopped the bus and urinated behind a tree, the girl said.

She told police she was scared and began texting a friend on her cell phone as Donnell got back on the bus and asked her questions about her boyfriend and whether he could hold her hand.

The girl said Donnell grabbed her by the waist, whispered in her ear and took her phone from her and turned it off.

Donnell eventually returned the phone to the girl, who said she tried to call her brother for help. She said Donnell eventually dropped her off on Fourth Street.

Police interviewed Donnell on Wednesday and he admitted turning off the bus lights, trying to hug her and taking the girl's phone. He told police he was hoping to "hook up" with the girl.